Politics is Local, so Get Political Locally (Linux Journal) [LWN.net]

Linux Journal gets politically active with the NYLXS, the New York Linux Scene. "People come to the Free Software movement for a variety of reasons. Except for the most politically active members among us, the main reason is an attraction to the soundness of the technology and the freedom to access the computer systems we use. Another compelling reason is the economic incentives it can provide disenfranchised individuals as well as large businesses. It's a testimony to our current freedoms that we come to free software without a second thought to the underlining principles that allow for the existence of such systems. In our work promoting free software, we've been surprised how often, even in our own circles, there exists huge resistance to anything political or the least bit distasteful. As a population, we have learned to be skeptical of politicians and stubbornly apolitical."

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Re: Politics is Local, so Get Political Locally

Posted Aug 6, 2002 1:33 UTC (Tue) by Anonymus (guest, #3123) [Link]

Politics is counterproductive. As a proxy for warfare, democratic systems have the advantage of being less violent, but the nature of the beast is the same however sugarcoated. Sure, we ought to be aware of politics, for the simple reason that it can pose a genuine threat to us. And we ought to prepare ourselves accordingly.

But to participate freely and intentionally in the political arena, where we are in all honesty a non-significant force to be reckoned with, we serve only to grant legitimacy to the outcome of the process which is, in the final analysis, just a contest of money and strength. If we are right, we need not be rich nor strong, but only to focus on doing what we do well.

Let the corporates and the militants and the various social engineers contend over the field of politics, let us leave it to them. We have something far better: self reliance. We do not need to ask for special favors, we do not depend upon extortion or any other form of force to sustain ourselves and our community. We have no need of the political system.

Enter their arena at your own peril.